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C of I to host planetarium show, Astronomy Day

Tue, Apr 3, 2012

Space enthusiasts and the public will have two opportunities to learn about the spring sky during an April celebration of Astronomy Month at The College of Idaho. Whittenberger Planetarium will host a public show featuring the planet Saturn at 7 p.m. April 11 inside Boone Science Hall on the C of I campus in Caldwell. Tickets cost $4 for adults and $2 for children ages 4-17. Reservations are required and can be made by calling (208) 459-5211. The College also will hold its annual Astronomy Day on April 28. This free event will include both indoor and outdoor activities, weather permitting.

The April 11 planetarium show will feature images of and information about Saturn, its rings and its moons gathered by the Cassini Spacecraft. Guests also will learn some interesting facts about the constellations and planet activity visible in Idaho’s spring sky. The planetarium is located in Boone Science Hall near Jewett Auditorium on the corner of 20th Ave. and Fillmore St. in Caldwell. Call for directions or visit www.collegeofidaho.edu/planetarium for more information.

The April 28 Astronomy Day event begins at 8 p.m. with outdoor activities, followed by a short planetarium lesson on using and reading a sky chart (9:15 p.m.) and an hour of moon-, planet-, and stargazing through telescopes (beginning at 10 p.m.). All activities will take place in and around Boone Science Hall. The outdoor and stargazing activities are dependent upon weather and visibility conditions, and guests are encouraged to dress appropriately for the weather. There is no admission charge for Astronomy Day, but donations to Whittenberger Planetarium always are appreciated. Please make a reservation in advance by calling (208) 459-5211.

Founded in 1891, The College of Idaho is the state’s oldest private liberal arts college. It has a century-old tradition of educating some of the most accomplished graduates in Idaho, including six Rhodes Scholars, three Marshall Scholars, and another 11 Truman and Goldwater Scholars. The College is located on a beautiful campus in Caldwell, Idaho. Its distinctive PEAK curriculum challenges students to attain competencies in the four knowledge peaks of the humanities, natural sciences, social sciences and a professional field, enabling them to graduate with an academic major and three minors in four years. For more information on The College of Idaho, visit www.collegeofidaho.edu.